Feminism fighting domestic abuse against men
‘Feminism’ is defined as the belief that the sexes should be equal from every political, economic, cultural and social stance. While it may be assumed that I am going to preach about ‘girl power’ and how terrible men are - I’m going to do the opposite.
Feminism has become wrongly synonymous with exclusively women fighting for women’s rights. This isn’t surprising. Just take the word ‘feminism’ – how can a movement claim to fight for the equality of both sexes, when it is seemingly named with only one gender in mind? From this, do we assume that men’s rights are not worth fighting for, even though they too experience oppression and injustice?
Instances of women-on-man domestic violence leading to murder is 30 per year, and statistics show that just under 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. I will confess my own surprise at how close this figure was to the women’s figure: 1 in 4. This is much more of an issue than it is broadcast to be. These figures are disturbing, so why do we choose to remain silent about them?
I recently came across an article entitled, ‘Dear men, this is why women have every right to hate us’. Intrigued, I gave it a read and was disturbed to find it not only featured, but also praised, the following quote from Louis CK: ‘I don't know how women still go out with guys when you consider the fact that there is literally no greater threat to a woman than men. We’re the number one threat to women. […] We’re the worst thing that ever happens to them.’ This is not true. Men absolutely pale in insignificance when compared to many of the threats I can think of. Starvation. Disease. Terrible acts of violence. From all of the horrific tragedies in the world how could anybody class men as the most dangerous? Women can equally carry out any threat a man could.
Men, you don’t have to be depended on. Women, you don’t have to be dependent. Let us change the unjust mindset that so desperately needs addressing. Let us stop the hating, the violence, and the anger. Let us depend on each other, regardless of what gender we are. Let us be the movement which makes all of us, everyone and everywhere, truly equal.
Tinks Wilson, Year 12
Feminism has become wrongly synonymous with exclusively women fighting for women’s rights. This isn’t surprising. Just take the word ‘feminism’ – how can a movement claim to fight for the equality of both sexes, when it is seemingly named with only one gender in mind? From this, do we assume that men’s rights are not worth fighting for, even though they too experience oppression and injustice?
Instances of women-on-man domestic violence leading to murder is 30 per year, and statistics show that just under 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. I will confess my own surprise at how close this figure was to the women’s figure: 1 in 4. This is much more of an issue than it is broadcast to be. These figures are disturbing, so why do we choose to remain silent about them?
I recently came across an article entitled, ‘Dear men, this is why women have every right to hate us’. Intrigued, I gave it a read and was disturbed to find it not only featured, but also praised, the following quote from Louis CK: ‘I don't know how women still go out with guys when you consider the fact that there is literally no greater threat to a woman than men. We’re the number one threat to women. […] We’re the worst thing that ever happens to them.’ This is not true. Men absolutely pale in insignificance when compared to many of the threats I can think of. Starvation. Disease. Terrible acts of violence. From all of the horrific tragedies in the world how could anybody class men as the most dangerous? Women can equally carry out any threat a man could.
Men, you don’t have to be depended on. Women, you don’t have to be dependent. Let us change the unjust mindset that so desperately needs addressing. Let us stop the hating, the violence, and the anger. Let us depend on each other, regardless of what gender we are. Let us be the movement which makes all of us, everyone and everywhere, truly equal.
Tinks Wilson, Year 12